Expandable Spherical Stent for Aneurysm Flow Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally-invasive techniques for treating aneurysms, such as coil deposition, face challenges like coil herniation, migration, and rupture risk, and do not effectively restrict blood flow while maintaining normal flow through blood vessels.
Innovation Solution
An expandable spherical structure with an open frame and a flow-restricting face, deployable in a collapsed configuration for minimally-invasive delivery, which expands to restrict flow to aneurysms or reinforce weaknesses in blood vessel walls without impeding normal blood flow, using materials like shape memory alloys or resilient polymers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coil deposition is used to treat aneurysms, then the aneurysm can be filled and thrombosis can occur, but coil herniation, migration, and rupture risk are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the spherical structure with flow-restricting face) that mediates between the blood flow and the aneurysm. This device restricts flow to the aneurysm without requiring direct contact or filling with coils, thereby avoiding coil-related complications while still achieving thrombosis prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful coils from the treatment approach and replaces them with a flow-restricting mechanical structure. By removing the coils entirely and using a different mechanism (flow restriction through a spherical frame with restricted face), the patent eliminates the risks associated with coil herniation and migration.
2Reliability
If flow is restricted to aneurysms to prevent rupture, then aneurysm rupture risk is reduced, but normal blood flow through the vessel may be impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a directional flow restriction. The spherical structure has a flow-restricting face that is positioned specifically at the aneurysm location, while the rest of the vessel lumen remains open. This localized restriction prevents aneurysm filling without impeding normal blood flow through the main vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical structure exhibits asymmetry in its flow restriction capability. The flow-restricting face is asymmetrically positioned to target the aneurysm while maintaining symmetry in the overall spherical geometry. This asymmetric flow restriction allows selective blocking of aneurysm inflow while preserving normal vessel flow paths.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively restricts blood flow to aneurysms, preventing rupture while allowing normal flow through the vessel, and can be used with thrombosis-inducing coils to facilitate thrombosis, offering a safer and more effective treatment option.
Implementation Method 1
using materials like shape memory alloys or resilient polymers
Implementation Method 2
using materials like shape memory alloys or resilient polymers
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable substantially spherical structure for deployment in a blood vessel or other body lumen, comprising:an open frame formed out of a closed loop of filament and configured to assume (i) a collapsed configuration in the form of a substantially two-dimensional elongated loop structure so as to facilitate insertion into the blood vessel or other body lumen, and (ii) an expanded configuration in the form of a three-dimensional substantially spherical structure so as to facilitate retention at a site in the blood vessel or other body lumen; anda flow-restricting face carried by the open frame;wherein the open frame is configured so as to permit substantially normal flow therethrough when the open frame is in its expanded configuration, and further wherein the flow-restricting face is configured so as to restrict flow therethrough.